Cannabis Bars at Weddings: What Toronto Hosts Should Know

A cannabis bar at a wedding is no longer unusual in Toronto, but it is still done badly more often than it is done well. The difference is almost always planning rather than budget. Here is what hosts should settle before the day.

Where it fits in the timeline

The mistake is treating a cannabis bar as a cocktail-hour feature. It is a late-night one. Ceremony, dinner and speeches are structured, seated and photographed; a rolling table competes with all three. Open it when the formal part of the night ends and the dance floor thins — usually somewhere between 10pm and midnight.

Run that way it does two useful things. It gives the guests still going a reason to stay, and it gives the ones who have had enough of the bar something else to do.

Guests who do not partake

Most of your guest list will not use the table, and that is fine — it should not feel like a wing of the party they are excluded from. Site it where it reads as a feature rather than a back room, and brief whoever runs it that watching is a perfectly good reason to come over. At a well-run table a good share of the people standing around it are there for the craft.

What to clear with your venue

• Written permission. Ask specifically, in writing. A venue that allows alcohol has not necessarily thought about cannabis.
• Where consumption happens. Most venues will want a designated outdoor area. Confirm it is covered, lit and reachable without walking guests through the reception.
• Smoking bylaws. Ontario rules on where smoking and vaping are permitted apply to your venue the same as anywhere else.
• Timing. If the venue has a hard end time, your late-night window may be shorter than you think.

Age verification, and why it protects you

Cannabis is 19+ in Ontario. At a wedding the guest list usually spans several generations, and younger cousins are exactly the scenario to plan for. Verification should happen at the table, by the operator, every time — not by you, and not by a member of your wedding party. Agree this before you book; an operator who treats it as the host’s problem is the wrong operator.

What a good setup looks like

A six-foot table, flower displayed in glass, a printed menu, proper linen and warm lighting. It should look like it belongs with the rest of your styling rather than something wheeled in from a different event. Ours is described in detail on the experience page.

Practically, plan for a footprint of about three metres by two, and about forty minutes of setup before you want it open.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need to supply the cannabis?

Not with us — flower and wraps are included in the booking. Hosts who are asked to source product themselves are taking on a problem that is not theirs to take on.

Will it bother the other guests?

Handled properly, no. Consumption happens in the designated area, not at the table, and the table itself is simply a well-styled piece of the room.

How long should we book it for?

Two to three hours covers most late-night windows. We will recommend a length and a number of rollers once we know the guest count.

Do you serve venues outside Toronto?

Yes — the GTA from Hamilton to Oshawa is standard, and further afield is quoted up front. Check yours on the service area page.

Planning one

Send your date, venue and guest count and you will get a quote with a recommended setup for the room. Request a quote here.